Automobile differential



April 18, 1933. c, N, MCMAMS 1,904,797

AUTOMOBILE DIFFERENTIAL Filed April 28. 1932- 3 Sheets-Sheet l ATTO R NEY April 18, 1933. c, N, MCMANIS 1,904,797

AUTOMOBILE DIFFERENTIAL Filed April 26. 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Chwa/ZZZZWM INVENTOR ATTORN EY April 18, 1933. c, N, M MANls 1,904,797

AUTOMOBILE DIFFERENTIAL Filed April 26. 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTOR N EY INVENTOR Patented Apr. 18; 1933 r i p v oHAnLns 'N; M MANIs, or MITCHELL, SOUTH DAKOTA J AUTOMOBILE DIFFERENTIAL Application fi ean rnze, 1932. serial meow-s21,

I This invention relates to differentials for tion illustrating the 'deviceoccupying a posi-Y' 'motor vehiclesand has for the primary obftion to establish driving connection between jest, the provision of a device of theabove the ring gear and the wheel axles. stated character, whereby free wheeling may 'Figure" 6 is a fragmentary 'sectionalsview be provided between the power source and taken onthe line 6%6 of Figure 5. i y l the drive wheels of the vehicle and also p'ro- Figure 7 is a detail sectional view takenon vide a positivedrive to either of said drive the line 7 7 of Figure 5, V I s wheels from the power source when one or Figure 8 is a detail sectional view taken on I the other ofsaid wheels loses traction, conthe line 8-8 of Figure 1 sequently preventing stalling of the vehiclev Figure 9 is a-{fragmentary plan viewillus-fi and still permitting either wheel to rotate trating the connections"betweenlthe sections"? faster than the other wheel whenmaking a of the mounting of the differential; i turn in either direction from a straight Referringindetail tothe drawins, the course. I numeral 'l indic'ates ring'gear meshing 7 Another object of this invention isthe proyitha drive pinion 2 secured to alp'ower shaft vision of a drive between the ordinary ring 3' receiving its power from 'a p0w'erfsource,"""

I gear and the wheel axle, whereby differential n'otkshown; Thering gear 1' is d ta ably movcmentbetweenthe axles may-be had with secured to lugs 4 by fasteners 5andthe lugs free wheeling between the axles; and the are formed integrally with bars 6 arranged power source and permitting the axles to be transversely of the ring gear and areinounted 79 driven'by the power source in either direc- 1n grooves 7 formedin the "periphery ,of an t-ion, p I Q t annular mounting 8 consisting of sections 9 A further object of this invention isthe and 10. :The opposingfaces of "thesections provision of a drive of II the above stated I 9 and 110 are notched zor recessed :to form character which is simple and durable in conshoulders or lugs 11' having interfitting construction and consists of a minimumnuinber nectionwith each other to establish a driving of parts to materially reduce the cost of connection between the-sections 9 and .10 of manufacture and maintenance and permit the mounting 8. The, bars 6 are capable of a n Y ting greater road clearance. limited sliding movement circumferentially VVi-th these and other obj ects in View, this of the mounting; 8 consequently permitting 8O invention consists in certain novel features ther ring" gear to have corresponding moveof construction, combination and arrangement to theniounting and said mounting is ment of parts to be hereinafter more fully journalled onbearingslQ of annular forma-w described and claimed: tlon andflkeyed topower axles-13,. as shown For acomplete understanding of my inat 14. The sections 9 and 10 of-themount vention, referenceis to be had to the follow- 'ing 8 are detachably secured together by tie ing description'and accompanying drawings, rods '15 and the ends of the bars 6 are proin which I I a V f I vided with flanges 16 overlying the side'faces V A Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in sec-- of thesections 9and10 of the mounting 8 tion illustrating adifferential constructed in: and-are provided with notches 17 to receive; 0

accordance with my invention. I A ythe outer ends ofpivotally mounted levers 18.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevation The leversare journalled on pivotzboltsl9 partly vin section illustrating the parts posithreaded to the sections 9 and 10 of the mounttioned to establish driving connection being 8 while the inner ends oftheilevers have a tween the ring gear and the wheel axles. pin andslot connections 20' with ca es 21 that Q Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the rotatably. support rollers 22; The ends-of line"3-3 of F igure'l. z p I I I the rollers are provided with ,trunnions '23 Figure 4 is a fragmentary transverse secfitting in: slotsof the cages 21 :Whereby said r tioual View taken on the line 4-4: of Figure 1. rollersare capable of a limited shifting Inove- Figure 5 is aside elevation partly in secment within said cages. Theroll'rs 311-310- 1 allowing the rollers when in certain positions to wedge between the inner walls of the recesses and the peripheries of the bearings 12. The neutral position of the levers 18 1s as shown in Figure 1 for positioningthe rollers so that they are free from contact with the walls of the chambers and the peripheries of the bearings 12 and when power is delivered to the ring gear in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 2, the ring gear shifts slightly relative to the mounting causing the levers to assume the position shown in Figure 2 wedging the rollers between the walls of the recesses and chambers and the peripheries of the bearings 12 thereby establishing a driving connection between the ring gear and the axles which will permit either axle to rotate faster than the other when the vehicle to which the differential is applied is 7 negotiating aturn and still permitting one of the axles to receivepower from the ring gear.

.Should one of the axles or its respective wheel lose traction, the other axle still'receives power from the ring gear, consequently preventing stalling of the vehicle. When the mo mentum of the vehicle is such thattheaxles :or their wheels rotate faster than the power shaft 3 or the power source of the vehicle,

the axles and their bearings 12 then will nected to the levers18 andthe latter connected to the ring gear in the manner heretofore described provides double acting overrunning clutches.

In order to obtain lubricant in the chambers 24 for the rollers 22 and the pivotedlevers 18, closure plates 25 are provided with suitable gaskets 26 I and are removably secured in place by fasteners 27. The cover plates 25 are provided with offset portions 28 about the pivots 19 and have located therein gaskets 29 which permit the levers 18 to pivot and still prevent the escape of lubricant.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it can be seen that a differential is provided capable of permitting differential movements between the wheel axles and also providing free wheeling between said wheel axles an thepower source and still permitting power to be dellvered from the power source in a positive manner to either of the axles- Further it is to be noted that the differential is capable of driving the wheel axles in either direction I from the power source and that the construction involved is simple and durable and consists of a minimum number of parts and obviates the employment'of spiders and spider gears conventionally employed in differentials.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood thatminor changes in confor limited circumferential movement relatlve to the mounting, a ring gear secured to said bars, bearingsjournalled in said mounting, double actlng overrunning clutches between said bearings and the mounting, pivotally mounted levers between the clutches and the bars for rendering the clutches operative and inoperative by the movement of the ring gear relative to the mounting and to permit the bearings to rotate free of the mounting when the power on said bearings exceeds the power on the mounting.

2; A differential comprising a mounting having grooves, bars mounted in said grooves for limited movement relative to the mounting and circumferentially thereof, a ring, gear carried by said bars, bearings journalled in the mounting, axles secured to said bear ings, said mounting having chambers com municative wlththe peripheries of the bearlugs and tapering toward thelr ends, rollers mounted in said chambers, cages for connccting the rollersof each chamber together, pivotally mounted levers connected to the cages and to the bars for causing said rollers to lock the mounting to the bearings and to disconnect the mounting to the bearings according to the movement of the ring gearrelative tothe mounting.

3. A differential comprising a mounting having grooves, bars mounted in said grooves for limited movement relative to the mounting and circumferentially thereof, a ring gear carried. by said bars, bearings journalled in the mounting, axles secured to said bearings, said mounting having chambers communicative with the peripheries of the bearings and tapering toward their ends, rollers mounted in said chambers, cages for connecting the rollers of each chamber toget-her, 'pivotally mounted levers connected ,to the cages and to the bars for causing said rollers to lock the mounting to the bearings and to 'disconnectthe mounting to the bearings according to the movement of their-ing gear relative to the mounting, and closure means for enclosing the chambers and por tions of the levers to retain lubricant therein. In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

CHARLES N, MOMANrs 

